Beginning the College Search Process
- A Guide for Juniors
By Sara Cronin - Senior Admissions
Consultant
Former Providence
and University of Connecticut
Admissions
As you enter the middle of your
junior year it is important to begin to think about the future. Many juniors
have recently received their PSAT score reports and with that comes the
discussion about what lies ahead following graduation from high school. Junior
year is an excellent time to begin the college search process, if you have not
started already. Many students wonder, where do I begin and how do I know what
to look for? Below is a guide to help you begin this exciting and sometimes
challenging journey.
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I.
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Know yourself
Think about what it is you like to do, study, read, discuss, and contemplate.
Conversely, it is also important to consider what you don't like to
study or if there are particular subjects in school that do not hold your
interest. It is your interests, abilities, values, goals and ambitions that
will help drive your college search in a particular direction. As you begin
to contemplate potential areas of study it is often difficult to consider all
the possible options. An interest inventory, career inventory or personality
assessment can be good tools to help you get a handle on your strengths and
weaknesses.
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II.
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Begin the process early and keep an open mind
Late winter school break is an excellent time to begin the search. Set time
aside to do some surfing on the web. Colleges have their own individual
websites and there are many college exploration sites as well. If your family
is traveling during school vacation try to make a point to visit colleges
that may be on your travel route. Begin to consider what may play a factor in
your decision: size, distance from home, location, public vs. private, and
school philosophy. Just as important when thinking about these factors is to
keep an open mind. There are over 3,000 undergraduate colleges and
universities across the country and many of these schools can provide the
right fit for your college needs.
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III.
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Complete your research
Attend college fairs, presentations and panels. Talk to people such as
guidance counselors, college students on break, parents, and friends. Once
you have taken the PSAT and as you proceed to take the March, May or June
SAT, colleges will begin to send you various pieces of information. Read the
literature and collect information that is important to you: are you
interested in attending a large university that offers unique research
opportunities; are you interested in a small college experience where you get
to know all your professors; are you considering going to school a distance
from home?
Be careful not to base your
winter/spring initial list solely on admissions selectivity and what publications
such as The US News and Princeton
Review Top
Colleges guides say.
These guide and rankings books are only one tool and filter. You really need
to spend significant time on a school's websites beyond the admissions
offices pages. You should be reading what the undergraduates are reading on a
school website. Read the most recent issue of the student newspaper, read the
requirements and home page of a specific department that interests you, look
through the course catalog and spend some time on the student life pages.
There is so much to learn from a university website that lies beyond the
admissions and financial aid pages, and I find that so few students really
look beyond the main marketing pages of any school's website. This is the
best and most affordable way to get informed about a college and whether you
want to take the next step of visiting that institution.
Spring of the junior year is an
excellent to time to plan a more comprehensive college visit. Take a tour of
the colleges that you may be considering, take the opportunity to meet with a
faculty member, or observe a class in session. These on-campus opportunities
can give you a much better sense of the campus environment, academic
philosophy and residential community that the school has to offer. You should
keep in mind that some colleges may be on-break at the same time you are on
spring break. We recommend visiting schools while they are in session in the
spring. You will probably be visiting some colleges in the summer, when
school is out, so make a concerted effort to see schools that are in session
in March/April or to visit colleges that you won't have enough time to visit
over the summer.
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IV.
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Focus on your high school program
As many college admission officers will tell you, junior year academic
achievement is paramount to preparing for the rigors of college level work.
The level of coursework, grades achieved, GPA, rank in class and overall
academic performance will help to determine how you are viewed through the
admission process. Although junior year is very important, senior year course
selection and performance is also a key factor in the admission process.
Admission committees will be taking a close look at your final year of high
school and how you have prepared yourself for the next level of academic
challenge.
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V.
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Invest in meaningful activities
Although the middle of your junior year is 'late' in your high school
experience, it is never too late to partake in a significant activity that
could help to boost your credentials. If you have not already done so,
involve yourself in your school, community or church. Find a group that
focuses on your hobbies or interests. Getting involved and finding that
'passion' is often what colleges are looking for. However, schools are not looking
for students to join activities simply to pad their resume. They are looking
for students who have found one or two activities in which they have invested
their time and efforts to make a difference in their school or community. A
job, volunteer experience, and/or commitment to an athletic team all play a
significant role in developing who you are as a student and future applicant.
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VI.
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Begin to narrow your search
The self-assessment references earlier should lead you to form some possible
decisions: the type of academic challenges you are looking for, a particular
major that you have in mind, the size of school that would fit with your
needs and interests, the community environment that would correspond with
your personality and other factors. By the end of your junior year a list of
ten to fifteen schools should be compiled as you have done your research,
searched the web, spoken to people at the colleges and visited various campus
communities.
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Writing the Common Application essay
and other college essays over the summer is one way to relieve the stresses of
senior year. Compiling your general college list and arranging admission
interviews is another way to get a leg up on the competition. The more you can
do to stay ahead of the game the better experience you will have, and in the
end you will find the right school. Remember, junior year is an excellent time
to begin this journey, and if you have a done your research and have a plan in
place you will find success at the end of the road.
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